Arkansas bracing for possible severe weather

A line of thunderstorms moving out of Oklahoma will present a chance of severe weather Sunday afternoon.

Severe weather chances should increase throughout the afternoon and into the evening, John Robinson, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Little Rock, said in a statement.

Short lines of storms could develop at times, but a big line of storms sweeping across the state is unlikely, the statement said.

The greatest chance of severe weather in the state will occur from later Sunday afternoon through the evening, and the threat of severe storms should exit eastern Arkansas a few hours after midnight.

"It still looks as though the chances of severe weather will be the greatest that we have seen so far this year. We expect to see at least a few tornadoes. It is possible that at least a couple of tornadoes could be EF2 or greater in intensity,” Robinson said.

Along with the threat of tornadoes, large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds and heavy rain is expected.

Flash flood watches have been issued for all of northeast and east central Arkansas, as well as parts of north central and central Arkansas. Rainfall amounts from Sunday through Monday night should range from 3/4 to 1 3/4 inches in western Arkansas, and from 1 to 3 inches elsewhere, Robinson said.